WALLACIA PUBLIC SCHOOL

‘Today is for Tomorrow’

CARE COOPERATION RESPECT RESPONSIBILITY

TERM 2 WEEK 8 JUNE 17th, 2013.

PRINCIPAL’S REPORT

Last week, our Choir students attended their first combined rehearsal for the 2013 Penrith Valley Music Festival. Miss Jackson and the students have been busily learning this year’s songs, and I know they are looking forward to the festival. They travelled to Jamison Public School for the rehearsal, and it was great to have the opportunity to mix with the choirs from other schools. Last Friday, our Year 5 students attended a Science and Technology Day at Glenmore Park High School. This annual event gives the students an opportunity to experience ‘high school life’ and is always well-received. This year, students participated in a cooking lesson (chocolate chip cookies – yum!) and a series of science experiments. Using a Bunsen burner was the highlight of the day for many of the students, but others preferred eating the cookies. This week, our students in K-3 have had the opportunity to attend the Life Education Program (Healthy Harold). From all reports, the students had a wonderful time, and participated enthusiastically in all the activities. We received an email from staff at the centre, congratulating our students on their wonderful behaviour. Well done, everyone. Early in Term 4, Stage 2 and Stage 3 students have overnight camps. If your child will be attending, please don’t forget to make regular payments – it’s much easier to pay in instalments than to have to find the full amount in one payment. Even though we haven’t been given an exact cost for the Stage 3 camp yet, we know it will be approximately $320, so instalments can be

paid at any time. Lately, quite a number of students have been coming to school wearing non-uniform items, especially coloured jumpers / jackets, and inappropriate jewellery. We are constantly reminding students to put their jumper in their bag as soon as they take it off. However, we frequently find jumpers or jackets that have just been left lying around, have no name, and cannot be returned to their owner. Please ensure your child’s clothing is labelled with their name, and remind them to put their jumper in their bag. Also, please assist us in reinforcing the school rules by not permitting your child to wear jewellery or false fingernails to school. For safety reasons, only small stud earrings are permitted, and no necklaces except for medical identification ones. Finally, I’d like to remind all families that regular school attendance is a legal requirement for children aged between 6 and 17 years. Unless your child is quite ill, they should be at school every day. As far as possible, medical and dental appointments should be made for out of school hours. In the event that you are planning to take a family holiday during school terms, you must seek approval from the Principal prior to the absence. Failure to do so may result in a referral to the Home School Liaison Officer for unsatisfactory attendance. The NSW Department of Education and Communities has strict policies

surrounding attendance, and penalties for unsatisfactory attendance can include a fine of

up to $11 000. Frequent partial absences (late arrival or early leaving), can also be deemed unsatisfactory attendance.

KINDERGARTEN 2014 Do you have a child due to start Kindergarten in 2014? Now is the time to enrol them! Please call into the school office and leave your child's details with Mrs Mullen. STARTING SCHOOL GROUP Is your child starting Kindergarten next year? Come along and meet some other families, have fun and become familiar with the school. The program provides a great start for your child! The group is free and run by an early childhood educator. Siblings are more than welcome. Bring some morning tea (healthy options), water and a hat for your child/children.

COMMENCING FRIDAY JULY 26TH CONTINUING FRIDAYS TERM 3 & 4

9.00 AM—11.OO AM IN THE SCHOOL LIBRARY

Please call into the school office and leave your details.

CLASSROOM STATIONERY It is now the time of year when the

students are beginning to run low on

the stationery in their pencil case. If

your child is running low on these

essentials, it would be appreciated if

you could refill their pencil cases as

soon as possible.

Suggested Stationery Items to be supplied for each student for the year: K – 2 HP pencil x 2 Coloured Pencils (pack of 12) Textas (optional Max 12) Glue stick Eraser x 2 Sharpener (with case preferable) 3 – 6 HP pencil x 2 Coloured Pencils (pack of 12) Textas (optional Max 12) Glue stick Eraser x 2 Sharpener (with case preferable) Ruler Small Scissors x 1 Blue Pen x 2 Red pen x 1 Please ensure that students’ belongings are clearly labelled and fit into ONE SMALL pencil case. Additional stationery can be kept at home. Please DO NOT send any unnecessary items, not listed, ESPECIALLY NOVELTY stationery. Please ensure your child has everything they need all year.

CLASSROOM ESENTIALS Donation of Tissues & Hand Sanitiser The cold and flu season is upon us. We would ask for kind donations of boxes of tissues and bottles of hand sanitiser. Your donations can be left in the office for distribution to classes as needed or given to your child to be left in their classroom. Thank you in anticipation. GYMNASTICS During Term 3, 2013, Activated Group/Gymnastics will be running an 8 week program for all students K-6. Students will have a qualified and experienced coach who will develop their skills in the dominant movement patterns involved in gymnastics, utilising the basic gymnastics apparatus, as well as additional supplementary equipment. Each class involves a whole group dynamic warm up, stretching and shaping activities, followed by small group activities on the gymnastics apparatus. Students will use gymnastic activities to develop their fine and gross motor skills, body awareness and self-confidence whilst fulfilling a range of outcomes from the Board of Studies NSW Personal Development, Health and Physical Education Syllabus. As gymnastics is part of the curriculum it is expected that all students will participate.

The program will begin in Week 2 of Term 3 and continue for 8 weeks. The students will need to wear their sports uniform every Wednesday of the Gymnastics Program. The students will not be required to wear their sports uniform of Friday during the Gymnastics Program. The cost of the entire program is $35.00 per student. This needs to be paid in full prior to the start of the program. Please return a permission slip together with payment to the office, by the end of this term, Friday 28th June, 2013. Mr Michael Bourne Gymnastics Coordinator

SRC DRESS UP DAY Friday June 28th, last day of term 2. Come dressed as your favourite movie character! Gold coin donation towards underprivileged countries. Thank you SRC

K—2 Taronga Zoo As part of the Science & Technology and Human Society and Its Environment curriculum, K-2 students are attending an excursion to Taronga Zoo on Tuesday 18th June, 2013. Leaving Wallacia Public School at 8:30am, returning at 3:00pm. Students will need to wear full school uniform, and bring their school hat. They will also need to bring their own recess and lunch (including drinks), in their school bag. P & C NEWS Expression of interest is sought for a proposed Family Astronomy Night to be held in Term 3, at UWS Werrington North Campus. Please return your expression of interest notes as soon as possible, your feedback is appreciated. Thank you P & C Mrs J Smith

Interview with

Mr Bourne

What is your favourite subject to teach? Explain why. Creative Arts, because it is hands on and involves individual creativity. What is your favourite country? Australia at the moment. Do you have any pets? A dog named Jessie, Kelpie x Collie. Where is your favourite holiday destination? Gold Coast, Queensland. What is your favourite thing to do? Play soccer! What is your favourite food to eat? Chinese, Mongolian Lamb. Do you have a dream house? Describe it. A mansion looking over an exotic beach. Do you have a favourite movie? What is it? Fast and the Furious! What is your favourite thing about your class? The individual characteristics of each student. Interviewed by Erin and Desiree

CLASS WORK SAMPLES 4/5/6 R SETTINGS WITH METAPHORS

The Desert

By Riley Woudstra The desert is as hot as the sun. The only thing that you can see is the bright yellow sand. The closest source of water is kilometres away. The deadliest thing here isn’t the venomous snakes, it’s the scorching hot sun. Luckily the scorpions are asleep under the sand. My backpack is an elephant. My water is lava. My sweat feels like boiling water. To top it all off, there is no sign of civilisation.

The Beach! By Erin Haly

The beach is a beautiful resort. There is thunder crashing all over the place. The water is ink smudged all over the place from a light blue pen. The ground is the floor of a hot desert. Glitter has been made into castles. There are geese flying around in the air squawking their heads off.

The Jungle By Kirsten Wilson

The jungle is dark like the black sky at midnight. The green grass is long like the tallest tree. When you walk through the beautiful jungle, there is a nice cold breeze like an air-conditioner. The deep blue water with all the beautiful fish is like an aquarium. The green leaves hanging off the bushy tree are small sticky bugs. The pathway is a trail of gold.

Oceans By Desiree Robinson

Oceans are the sky in the ground. They are a huge piece of string that is scattered all around different countries in the world. Oceans are a park to play in that anyone can have. They are tiny specks of blue glitter bunched together and filling up a thousand pools. Oceans will take you on a journey to new islands; they are a passageway to seeing new things. Oceans are freedom for a boat that would like to go on an adventure.